Lucknow Super Giants found themselves in the spotlight for off-field reasons during their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, after a short image aired sparked discussion over a possible protocol violation.The moment came in the first over of the match, after Josh Inglis hit a boundary to Akhil Hossain on the fifth ball. During the replay shown on television, a person was seen using a mobile phone, and viewers claimed he was in the LSG hideout area. This led to immediate reactions on social media.The Indian Premier League’s Players’ and Match Officials’ Area (PMOA) rules clearly restrict the use of mobile phones and electronic devices in specified areas, including dressing rooms, dugouts, match viewing areas, referees’ rooms, match officials’ room and dining areas.
Only the official team analyst is allowed to use the devices in a designated area.As the clip spread online, questions were raised about whether the rules had been broken. However, the situation did not develop further as it emerged that the person who appeared on camera may not have been part of the LSG hideout. However, TimesofIndia.com was unable to independently verify the person’s exact location.
The IPL PMOA guidelines state: “The use of cell phones and other electronic communication devices is not permitted in the PMOA.”
The rules apply to all major operational areas during a match, including areas associated with players, officials and support staff under the supervision of the BCCI.A similar case was reported earlier in the season when Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone during a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The matter came under scrutiny after pictures of Bhinder with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi surfaced on social media during the match.